BRACKNELL Town FC had every reason to claim “we were robbed” following their 2-1 defeat at Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

The Robins were the better side in the first half and again for a spell late in the game, and they looked good value for a point with the clock showing 90 minutes.

However, a referee’s decision went again them, they lost possession and Bassett grabbed a last-gasp winner to take all three points which they didn’t really deserve.

The players were left fuming and a particularly frustrated Johnnie Dyer made a comment towards the referee after the final whistle which earned the Bracknell striker a red card.

Neither side was happy with referee Adrian Matthews’ performance and Robins’ assistant manager Jeff Dennis said: “For me, the referee’s decision-making was one way. 

“A lot of decisions went against us. We should have had a penalty in the first half as there was a blatant handball by one of their players.”

This defeat was their 11th in 17 league games and Town remain second from bottom of the Hellenic League Premier Division table, with only local rivals Wokingham & Emmbrook below them.

“We do need some points desperately,” admitted Dennis.

Manager Mark Tallentire, who was unable to get to Wootton Bassett due to work commitments, has assembled almost an entire new team and they are going to need time to gel.

With five senior players unavailable, Robins took only 12 players to the new Gerald Buxton Sports Ground, with Dan Ridge keeping the subs’ bench warm by himself.

Despite the result, Dennis told the News: “There are plenty of positives.

“In the first half we had good possession and we had chances which on another day would have gone in. In the second half we had a different game plan as we had to take in account of the conditions.

“But they (players) didn’t really apply it. They lost possession too much in the second half, they lost their shape, lost composure and decided to take risks in the defending third.

“We had problems down our left hand side. We did get them sorted out, but then we switched off and that cost us the winning goal.”

Dennis added: “There were more positives than negatives and we must now move on.”